Time controlled coin device for radiocircuits



July 28, 1931. M. HALL TIME CONTROLLED COIN DEVICE FOR RADIOQIRGUITS med Sept. 26, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 3mm L ou is M Ha. [I

July 28, 1931. L. M. HALL 1,816,526

' TIME CONTROLLED COIN DEVICE FOR RADIOCIRCUITS Filed Sept. 26; 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INSULATION gwuentoz Patented .1 19 as, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LOUIS HALL, OF FORT THOMAS, KENTUCKY ASSIGNOR TO THE MONARCH TOOL & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO TIME CONTROLLED COIN DEVICE FOR RADIOCIRCUITS Application filed September 26, 1929. Serial No. 395,359.

This invention'relates to'a time controlled coin device for controlling an electrical cir cuit, for example, an electrical circuit of a radio receiver.

An object of the invention is to provide improved means whereby an electrical switch, closed by the action of a coin, will be kept closed for a predetermined time. I

Another object is to provide an improved means of the above character which requires no winding or other attention.

Another object is to pmvide a device for the purpose stated above, which will retain the said electrical switch closed, without interruption to the electrical circuit controlled thereby, until termination of a number of timeintervals corresponding to the number 4 of coins dropped into the device.

A further objectis to provide a timing device having a novel Wiping contact electrical switch-mechanism which will function perfectly for long periods of time without requiring adjustment or repalrs.

i These and other objects are-attained by the means described herein and disclosed in the acompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of the device of the invention, showing conventionally a coin slot mechanism and the manner of electrically connecting the device to a radio receiver and to a source of electricity.

Fig. 2 is a detailed elevational view of a time operated mechanism forming part of the invention, showing one of the positions assumed thereby when set in motion.

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 2 showing the time operated mechanism in advanced position.

Fig.4 is an isometic view of a contact member forming a detail of the invention.

The device of the present invention is particularly adapted for use in conjunction with I a radio receiver, and the purpose thereof is to close the principal or controlling circuit of said radio receiver upon the insertion of a coin or coins, and to maintain said circuit in a closed condition until the elapse of a number of uniform time intervals equal to the number of insertedcoins. The particular means utilized 1n accomplishing the above are trouble-proof and positive inaction, and

all electrical contacts thereof are self-cleaning and self-adjusting. I

n the drawings, 6 represents the usual electrical current rectifying or transforming means to which are electrically connected the linewires 7 and 8 of a suitable source of electricity 9. The device 6 is adapted to supply a suitable electrical current for the filament 10 of a radio tube or tubes. The line wires are electrically connected also to the terminals 11 of a transformer, a secondary terminals 12 of which are connected, by means of conductors 13 and 14, to a coin chute terminal 150, and to one terminal 160 of an electro magnet coil 16, respectively. A pivoted electrical contact trip member 17 cooperates with a second contact member 170, which is connected with conductor 13, for closing the circuit through the electromagnetic coil. Member 17 has electrical connection, through con ductor 19, with the electromagnetic coil, so that the circuit consists of the secondary coil of the transformer, conductor- 13, terminal 15,

contacts 170, and 17, conductor 19, electromagnet 16, and conductor 14, all connected in series. A coin 20, upon striking one end of the pivoted contact 17, serves to complete the said circuit, thereby energizing the electromagnet 16. The purpose of the transformer 11-12 is to provide suitable current for energization of the electromagnet 16,

but said transformer is not essential to the operation.

A toothed wheel or'escapement member 21, having an extending pin or abutment 22', is

rotatably mounted upon a shaft 23 which is fixed upon the side 24 of casing 25. The shaft carries a fixed hollow drum 26 having one end ofa coil spring 27 secured therein. The opposite end is secured to the shaft, and the spring serves constantly to urge the wheel 21 in aclockwise direction of rotation. Actua tion of the armature 28 by the magnetism of the electromagnet, serves to permitpartial escapement of the wheel 21 each time that a coin closes the circuit to the electromagnet. The teeth 29 of thepawl 30, which is fixed to v the -armature, permit tooth by tooth escapement of the toothed wheel, as the armature is rocked upon its pivot 30. The armature is yieldingly held in the raised position by a spring 31, as shown in Fig. 1.

Means are provided for effecting a tooth by tooth return of the toothed wheel to an initial position wherein the extension or stud 22 is in abutment upon the extension 32 of an insulated switch member Said means ture 40 and the.

- mounted upon the wall 24 as at 39, and to this support is pivotally mounted an armapawl 34, as at 41' and 42, respectively.

The character 43 indicates a solenoid or hollow coil, which is retained in alignment with the armature by means of bolts 44 extending through a wall 45 of the casing. Upon energrzation of the solenoid or coil, the armature 40 is forcibly drawn thereinto in a 4 manner wellknown. Each time that the solenoid is energized, the action of the armature causes the pawl 10 move the toothed wheel the distance ofone tooth, in a counterclockwise direction of rotation. It should be apparent, therefore, that such movement of the wheel will cause the stud 22 to strike the extension 32, and thereby move the member 33 about itspivot 46 for breakin the electrical contact at 47. Conductors of electricity are indicatedby 48, 49 and 50. Contact 49 is fixed upon the member 33.

It will be noted that conductors 51, 52, 53 and a switch indicated generally by 54, serve to carry electrical current from the source of-elect-ricity to the solenoid 43. The switch 54 is arranged to close the circuit through the solenoid, for an instant, upon the termination of predetermined time intervals. I The spring metal switch member 55, to which is electrically connected the conductor 52, is fixedly mounted as at 56, upon a base 57 of non-conductivematerial. Upon the base is rotatably mounted agear 58,

which is constantly in mesh with a pinion 59 on a shaft 60 driven by an electrical motor 61.

The motor preferably is one of thetype v which operates in synchronism with the pulsations or undulations of the electrical circu1t,/and the motor-is geared or otherwise arranged, with respect to the pinion, so asto rotate the pinion one revolution within a predetrmined'interval of time. The gear 58 accordingly ,will rotate once during a greater interval of time, which is determined by the vratio of the gears 58 and 59. The

' large geartherefore may rotate once every I five or ten minutes, if desired. It will be noted that the gear 58 carries an extending stud or abutment 62. Current is supplied to the motor by conductors .63, 64 and 65 which 69 of the arm overhangs the gear 58, and is provided witha metallic contact 70 which is electricallyconnected with conductor 53. A spring 71 yieldingly holds the arm in an initial position against a stop 72. The spring serves another purpose also, which will presently be disclosed.

One edge and an adjacent end of the arm 66 are cut to provide a notch having abutting faces 73 and 74, face 74 being provided with an upwardly turned lip 740 which stud 62 may engage, if necessary, for assisting the armto the position of Fig. 3. The rotation of gear 58 is counter-clockwise, and it will be observed that continued rotation of said gear (Fig. 1) will cause the stud 62 to lodge within the notch formed by the faces 73 and 74. Further rotation-of thegear causes the arm to recede, thereby tensioning the spring 71 as shown in Fig. 2. As the stud continues.

to move downwardly, the arm assumes the position shown in Fig. 3, and further movement thereof causes the stud to leave the face- 74, whereupon the tensioned spring 71 acts to rotate the arm to the initial position ,shown inFig. 1. This latter movement efdropped into chute 150, which momentarily closed the circuit through the electromagnet 16. The armature 28 thereupon was actuated to permit escapement of one tooth of the wheel 21, in a clockwise direction, as was previously explained. This movement of the wheel caused the abutment 22 to leave the arm 32,.thereby permitting spring 75 to move said arm to the position shown, wherein the switch 47 was closed. Closing of switch 47 permitted flow of electricity through the mo- 'tor 61, by way of conductors 65, 63, 50, 49.

48, and 77, and at the same time the tube filament circuit, consisting of conductors 80, 6,

64, 50, 49, 48 and 77 was completed. The motor therefore is driving the large gear 58 in a counter-clockwise direction. moving with the gear, will strike the abutment face 74 of arm 66,'and further move- Pin 62,

ment of the pin will cause the arm to assume the positions indicated in Figs. 2 and 3. As the pin continues to move, it leaves the face 74 of the arm, whereupon the arm is thrown quickly upward to the initial position, by the action of spring 71. During said quick upward movement of the arm, the contact'70 slides upon contact-55, thereb closing the circuit embracing the solenoi 43. As the solenoid is energ1zed,-the' return pawl 34 is actuated for returning the toothed wheel 21 to initial position, with the switch 47 open.- It is to be understood that pin 62, on the mtor driven gear 58, clears the member 55. In the event that a plurality of coins be dropped into the chute 150, in succession, the toothed wheel will move the distance of one tooth for each coin, and the circuit embracing the filament will remain closed (at arm for cooperation with the stationary contact member, 'a spring cooperating with the .arm for yieldinglyholding said arm in a K LOUIS M. HALL.

47) until the toothed wheel is returned, step i by step, to the initial position.

- It is to be understood that various modifications and changes in structural details may be made, within the scope of the appended claims, withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention. 1

What is claimed is: v

1. In combination an electrical circuit including an energizable element and a pair of electrical contacts, one of the contacts being substantially stationary, a contact supporting arm arranged for'linear and rotatory movement and having the other contact fixed thereon, an electrically driven motor, a ear driven by the motor, means on the gear or cooperating with the arm and imparting thereto linear and rotatory movement for placing the contact of the arm in an operative position with respect to the stationary contact, and means for sliding one contact across the other upon predetermined movement of the gear, for closing the electrical circuit through the energizable element.

- 2. In combination a fixed electrical contact member, a contact support arm disposed adjacent the fixed contact member and yield- .ingly urged to ,a normally inoperative position, said arm being arranged for linear and rotatory movement, a second electrical contact member on the arm, a driven member disposed adjacent the arm, means associated with the driven member for engaging the arm and moving said arm longitudinally and through an arc to an operative position adjacent to the fixed contact member, continued I movement of the driven member serving to release the arm for movement to the inoperative position, during which movement the i a contact member on the arm slides along the stationary contact member.

3. In combination, .a base, a substantially stationary electrical contact member, supported upon the base, a contact support arm mounted upon the base for linear and rotatory movement, a contact member on the 

